Senate rejects federal funds benefiting China.

US Senate Votes to Restrict Funding​ to China

Bipartisan members of the U.S. ​Senate agreed on Oct. 31 that federal⁣ funding for⁣ military construction and‌ the departments of Veterans Affairs (VA), Transportation, Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development should not benefit China.

In a 61-36 vote, members approved an ​amendment⁤ to the Senate’s spending package for those agencies that would prohibit the use of appropriated funds to⁣ provide “grants, funding, or⁢ any ‍financial benefit” to China-based entities⁣ or their ​subsidiaries.

“Whatever other disagreements we may ​have about⁤ the ‌spending ⁢in these bills, surely we can agree that ​this money ought to go to Americans and American companies and our allies,”⁣ said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), the amendment’s sponsor, on ‌the‍ Senate floor.

Related Stories

• Senate Backs Measures Tackling China Tech Investments, CCP Farmland Purchases

  7/26/2023

• Senate ​Backs Ban on China Buying US ‍Farmland

  7/25/2023

“All this amendment does is‌ it says that none of ‍the money we are appropriating can go ‌to ‌China,” ⁢he explained. “It ​can’t go to ​Chinese companies, or companies that are owned and controlled by China—that’s it. It’s⁤ simple: No American taxpayer dollars to the‍ People’s Republic⁤ of ⁤China. This should be an easy vote.”

While a majority of the chamber clearly agreed, Sen. Patty Murray⁤ (D-Wash.) warned ‌the amendment could have “far-reaching, unintended​ consequences” that could complicate⁤ agencies’ abilities to ​do their jobs.

Ms. Murray further contended​ that school⁣ lunch ⁤programs ​could face⁢ difficulties procuring meat given that some meat producers and processing companies, like Smithfield Foods, are owned ⁢by ​Chinese companies. And the ​Federal Aviation Administration, she added, would ​no longer be able to purchase Chinese-made drones for research, testing, and training.

“Do⁤ we want to be buying school lunches from China?” he asked. “Do we want to be ​buying ‌pharmaceuticals from China and be dependent on ‌them?‌ I ⁣think ‍not.”

Staying Vigilant

The move to restrict the flow of federal​ funds to ‌China comes at a time of increasing tension between the communist ⁤nation and the U.S., as the two ‍countries remain ‌at ⁣odds ‍over the independence of Taiwan ⁢and ‍the⁤ war in Ukraine.

In recent⁢ months, leaders in the United States ⁤have sought to limit China’s influence domestically, particularly in relation‌ to the ⁣food supply.

And U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina‍ Raimondo, in a September interview with CNN, ⁤said that the Biden administration⁤ is⁣ also being “vigilant about not allowing Chinese⁣ investment in the U.S. that we ⁢think hurts our national security.”

“We have to be real about ⁢those concerns,” Ms. Raimondo said. “So, to the extent that Chinese investors, buying farmland, buying U.S. businesses, erodes our national security, then we should‌ stop it.”

R ⁤surveillance purposes.

How does PAA enable more efficient and effective surveillance for the protection of‌ public ⁢safety and national security

Public Automated Analytics (PAA) enables more efficient and effective surveillance for the protection of⁢ public safety and national security through its ‌ability to analyze large ⁢amounts⁣ of⁣ data⁢ quickly‌ and accurately. Here ⁤are some ways in which PAA ‍accomplishes this:

1. Data integration and consolidation: PAA‍ can consolidate data from various sources, such⁣ as social media,‍ government databases, and sensor networks, into a single system. This‌ integration allows for ‍a holistic view of⁣ potential threats and better decision-making.

2. Real-time analysis: PAA can process data in real-time, providing immediate insights ⁣into patterns, anomalies, and ‌potential risks. This enables authorities to respond quickly‍ to emergent ​situations, preventing or minimizing harm.

3. Pattern recognition and anomaly⁢ detection: PAA ‌can identify patterns and anomalies in vast amounts of data that would be impossible for humans to detect. This helps security agencies to proactively identify and prevent potential threats, such as terrorist activities or criminal behavior.

4. Predictive analytics: By analyzing historical data and using machine learning algorithms, PAA can ‌predict future trends and risks. This allows security agencies to take preemptive measures and allocate resources ​efficiently ⁢to areas where the likelihood of a security ⁤incident is higher.

5. Behavioral analysis: PAA can analyze individual and group behavior, detecting​ suspicious activities ​or deviations from normal patterns. This capability is particularly useful in identifying potential threats, ⁣such as radicalization or organized crime.

6. Enhanced situational ​awareness: ⁣PAA provides a comprehensive and real-time⁤ overview of the security landscape, enabling decision-makers to make‍ informed decisions based​ on ‌accurate and up-to-date ⁢information. This helps in planning and executing ‌effective response strategies.

7. Efficiency and resource optimization: By automating data processing and analysis, PAA reduces the burden on human analysts, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. This improves operational efficiency and ensures that resources are utilized effectively.

8. Collaboration and information sharing: PAA​ facilitates the sharing of information and⁣ intelligence among different⁢ security agencies and stakeholders. This enables better coordination‌ and collaboration, enhancing the overall effectiveness of ‍surveillance efforts.

Overall, PAA⁢ enables more efficient and effective surveillance‍ for the protection of public⁤ safety and national security by leveraging advanced analytics and automation to process,​ analyze, and interpret vast amounts of data. It ⁤empowers security agencies to make more ‍informed decisions, detect threats‍ in real-time, and mitigate risks ​proactively, ultimately‌ safeguarding the public and national interests.